All Four Officers Involved in George Floyd Death are Charged

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by: Colorado Pols

Breaking news this afternoon, as CNN reports:

The former Minneapolis Police officer who pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck was charged on Wednesday with a new, more serious count of second-degree murder, and the three other officers on scene during his killing were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

“I strongly believe that these developments are in the interest of justice for Mr. Floyd, his family, our community and our state,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in announcing the charges.

The announcement came more than a week after Floyd was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis, sparking nationwide protests that call for the end to police violence against black citizens.

Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, had previously been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The new second-degree murder charge says that he killed Floyd “without intent” in the course of committing assault in the third degree, according to an amended complaint.

4 thoughts on “All Four Officers Involved in George Floyd Death are Charged”

davebarnes says:

June 3, 2020 at 3:18 pm

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Diogenesdemar says:

June 3, 2020 at 3:26 pm

Felony Murder

Felony murder is a type of second-degree murder in Minnesota. Felony murder leaves less discretion to the prosecutor as the definition is more discrete but punishes accidental behavior just as harshly. A person can be convicted of felony murder in Minnesota if that person, “causes the death of a human being, without intent to effect the death of any person, while committing or attempting to commit a felony offense other than criminal sexual conduct in the first or second degree with force or violence or a drive-by shooting.” ⁴

A person can be charged with felony murder if a person dies while the defendant is committing a crime as minor as a felony DWI. ⁵

https://www.karaluslaw.com/criminal-defense-attorney-minnesota/depraved-mind-and-felony-murder-accident-or-evil-intent/

Seems to me that “aiding and abetting” murder or homicide in Minnesota, might be, in itself, second-degree murder in Minnesota?

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Duke Cox says:

June 3, 2020 at 5:12 pm

So…The Minneapolis Police Union president managed to stall this long. But, the protesters have prevailed, so far. When asked about her father today, his young daughter said, "my daddy changed the world".

Could it be the Defiler-in-Chief will be brought down by the death of a simple, average citizen? If there is to be justice…let it begin now.

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1. Mr. L. Prosser says:
  
  June 4, 2020 at 10:58 am
  
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